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The Winhawks ended a 39-game losing streak in the Big Nine Conference on Friday night, beating Rochester Century 29-14 at Paul Giel Field.
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Winona Senior High School's Will Lueck makes an interception during their game Friday night against Rochester Century High School at Paul Giel Field in Winona. (Photo by Fred Schulze/Winona Daily News) |
WSHS last won a conference game in 2002, beating Albert Lea 28-0 in the regular-season finale. It was the second of back-to-back wins, marking the last time the program had won two games in a row.
“Everyone was still saying, ‘Maple River who?’ We’re trying to prove that we can compete against the best,” WSHS senior running back Chad Peterson said. “We’re 2-0 now and we’ve never been able to say that. It’s a different streak we’re hoping to start.”
The Winhawks opened the season last week with a 47-13 victory over Maple River, a team it beat to start the 2007 season to end an overall 37-game losing streak.
Needless to say, the win against Century was much more special than either victory over Maple River.
Century (0-2) has been one of the best programs in the conference the past few years, sharing the title the past two seasons.
The Winhawks celebrated like it was a big deal, too. Fans joined the players on the field and quarterback Joe Zimbric presented coach John Cassellius with a game ball.
“Obviously, this is huge,” said Cassellius, in his fourth season with the Winhawks. “To win a Big Nine Conference game against a good opponent is a huge deal to our guys.”
It meant so much Peterson was crying as he received high-fives and hugs from teammates, fans and family members.
“This is probably the greatest night of my life,” Peterson said. “I know it’s the best game I’ve ever had.”
It looked like it might be a blowout the way the Winhawks started. They drove 60 yards in eight plays on the opening drive to take a 7-0 lead on Peterson’s
4-yard run.
Peterson returned a punt 55 yards to set up his next score, a 3-yard run that gave WSHS a 13-0 lead with 1:43 left in the first quarter.
The Winhawks managed only a 31-yard field by Arik Jacquart the rest of the half, but led 16-0 at the break.
Century showed life in the second half, getting within 16-14 with 2:28 remaining in the third quarter. Their two-point attempt after the second touchdown — a 1-yard run by Chad Zastrow — was stopped in the backfield.
Peterson was there again to make a big play and give momentum back to the Winhawks. He waited and then adjusted under a fluttering pass from Zimbric and hauled in a 26-yard scoring pass for a 22-14 lead with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
He later added an 83-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to put the game away.
“Every time I get the ball, I feel like I can take it to the house,” Peterson said. “I’m disappointed if I don’t.”
Peterson finished with 173 yards rushing on 18 carries and also caught three passes for 51 yards.
“Chad has speed and he makes plays all the time,” Cassellius said. “He’s electric. I guess that wraps it up in one word. He’s an electric player.”
WSHS’s defense was nearly as impressive. They gave fits to Century starting quarterback Kyle Menkosky, a junior making his first start. He replaced Jared Malone, who injured his knee in a 42-0 loss to Wayzata in the opener.
Menkosky completed just 5 of 25 passes for 91 yards and was picked off four times. Will Lueck had two interceptions and Chris Merritt and Ryan Looney each had one.
“This was the Big Nine, a Rochester school,” Lueck said. “This is a huge step for us. This is what we’ve been working for.”
